MAY NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRADUATE OR CULTURAL CREDIT
This course focuses on the changes and challenges facing many
American families in this day and age. Our examination of these
issues begins with an historical examination of American families,
which will serve as the foundation for taking a more in-depth look
at the social changes and processes that have shaped the current
state of affairs for American families (and will continue to impact
them in the future). An important focus throughout will be the way
broader social forces and social institutions (e.g., the economy,
the church, and the political system) influence family life. This
focus will be evident in our examination of the rules that regulate
marriage and divorce, the “work-family balance,” childcare and
welfare policy, family diversity, domestic violence, and other
topics.